“You’re all heart,” I mutter sarcastically. “Fine, I’ll get changed. No makeup, and I couldn’t give a shit about my hair.”
“Your hair always looks good, and you don’t need makeup. But you do need to be in something other than ripped shorts and a Filthy Sound T-shirt.”
I’m so fucking tragic.
“Don’t judge. It’s comfortable.”
She holds her manicured hands up. “I don’t think you’re a loser, not at all.”
“You’re a horrible friend.”
“You love me. Go change, and wear something sexy.”
“Why?”
“Because I said.” She shoos me with her hands.
“Oh my God, I’m going. I don’t like the new more assertive Peyton, by the way.” I leave her to it and go to get changed.
“Hurry up, Texas!” she shouts through my bedroom door as I close it.
I open my bag and take a quick look. Peyton said sexy, but I’m not looking to score, so I opt for my leather shorts and a white T-shirt that I tuck into them. I slip on a pair of black ankle boots, and I’m done.
It’s not like I need to dress up. My name gets me into pretty much anywhere I want. I step back out of the room, and Peyton is just slipping on a thigh-length navy dress. Her lips are now Coca-Cola red. She’s got sexy down.
She looks up, and her eyes hone in on my outfit. “See? This is why I hate you. How do you make a simple outfit look hot?”
I peek down at myself and give her a what-the-fuck look. That’s really not what’s happening here. And I’m cool with that. I’ll never be super girlie or look like a real proper, sophisticated grown-up. I am who I am, and that won’t change.
“Pey, if Cooper ever saw you in that dress, he’d never leave you alone.”
She rolls her eyes. “Is it wrong I hope that happens?”
“What? Wait, you want…”
Hello, Twilight Zone.
“No! I mean, I’m sure a night with him would be out of this world, but I think I’d pay for it in the sense that he would never let me forget or live it down. But the man is undeniably gorgeous, and he oozes multiple orgasms.”
I lift my eyebrow. Has she been abducted? “Peyton Best, is this something you want to find out?”
She scoffs. “No. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
I grab my phone and debit card, and we head to Ted’s suite. He’ll insist on taking someone else, too, since Peyton will be with me, but I don’t really care who comes along. I never notice them anyway.
Peyton links my arm as we walk into the club. Ted and Marco, another addition to the security team, are right with us. Peyton has a harder time with security being so close. She always has. When we went out as kids, she would be hyperaware that we weren’t alone, so she’d filter everything she said.
“Oops,” Peyton says, nodding to the bar.
My face drops, but my heart soars. Great. Kitt and Cooper are here.
“My bad. I should’ve checked where they were first.”
“Whatever,” I say, shaking my head. “Just get me drunk—like, right now.”
She claps her hands together. “Yay. To the bar!”
Linking my arm with hers, I can’t help but laugh. She’s such a perky glitter-and-rainbows person that it’s impossible to be sad around her for long. Peyton is exactly what I need right now, and it’s times like these when I realise how much I’ve missed her.
“When are you moving back home, Pey?”
“I have another year in production, and then I’ll be back.” She smiles brightly, and her gunmetal-blue eyes light up.
I know she gets homesick sometimes, but acting is what she was born to do.
We head to the bar. Kitt and Coop still haven’t seen us. They’re at the other end, sitting at a table. Cooper is his usual enthusiastic self, and my moody boyfriend is very moody. He’s nursing a whiskey and sulking.
“You’re staring,” Peyton sings.
I look away. “Sorry.” I can’t help it.
Doesn’t help that Kitt looks incredible in a simple blood-red T-shirt. His hair is messy, and although he’s smiling, it’s not real. We have that in common.
“If you want to make up with him, go and talk to him.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“How about you start with, Sorry? Or offer him a blowie.”
“Yeah. How about you get me a drink first? Then, I’ll figure out how to handle this.”
She salutes. “Your wish…”
KITT
MONDAY, MAY 18
LISBON, PORTUGAL
Fuck.
Texas is here. And, somehow, a day early, so is Peyton.
Seeing Texas in those shorts and messy hair is torture. I ache to touch her.
They make their way over to our table. Milo is off dancing with a couple of girls, and Cooper’s earlier hanger-on has fucked off with someone else because he wasn’t giving her enough attention. He won’t be interested now that Peyton is here anyway.
Peyton smiles. “Hello, boys.”
Coop holds his hand up. “Men, darlin’, and I can prove it.”
She rolls her blue eyes. “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Yeah, maybe that’s the problem. I can help you be real bad.”